These are just some thoughts on this matter. Keep in mind this this is my
first coherent post on a philosophical subject.
>>'There is no direct scientific connection between mind and matter.'
>>Instead they are linked through social and biological patterns.
>
>STRUAN (continues)
>>Call that a solution??? There IS a direct scientific connection
>>between mind and matter and to say their isn't flies in the face of
>>modern science.
I beleive in either Lila or ZAM Pirsig drew a comparison between "mind" and
computer software. I don't remember exactly which work of his it was.
Lets say our brains and bodies are like computer hardware. Then, mind is
like software. A computer program can exist perfectly fine outside of
hardware -- it can be printed on paper, stored in a dormant state on a
disk drive, remain in a passive state in computer memory, etc. etc. etc.
I am not an information theorist (if someone here is, please correct me),
but information (software) is essentially a form of energy. On a disk or in
memory it is a particular configuration of electrons - a magnetic charge.
On paper it is matter -- ink is spilled out in a form that we can
recognize as meaningful information. In our brains it is a particular
configuration of neural networks, some electrochemical reaction and a
resulting flow of electrons. Matter itself is a form of energy (E=mc^2) and
vice versa. Please correct me if I am wrong -- I am not a physicist.
Following this logic, mind is a form of energy/matter. By the law of
conservation of matter and energy it must exist in one form or another
_always_. Where do our thoughts go when we die ? Do they disappear ? They
can't -- because there is always a constant amount of matter and energy in
the universe. Where are our thoughts before we are born ? They must exist
somewhere, in one form or another, before we are even born. Our patterns of
thought may be predefined by the food our mothers consumed and by the
particles they breathed in and by the sunlight they were exposed to while
carrying us in their wombs !
So, mind is a form of matter following simple, most basic laws of physics.
Saying that it isn't, does in fact contradict modern science.
Just my two cents from a scientific standpoint (coming from computer science).
Regards,
Oleg
P.S.:
Does a computer running software have control over what is going to happen
next ? Does it know that I am using it right now to type up an email ? Does
a human brain know what it is doing ? Does it have any control over its
actions ?
"By the Grace of God Almighty and the pressures of the Marketplace, the
human race had civilized itself... It's a miracle..." -- R. Waters, "Amused
to Death"
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